Brazilian Salada de Maionese, Creamy Vegetable and Egg Salad

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Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

📍 Where this dish comes from: Maranhão · Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
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Brazilian Salada de Maionese, plated and ready to serve

In Brazil, a bowl of salada de maionese, often simply called maionese, is the creamy vegetable salad that comes out for Sunday barbecues and holiday meals. Tender vegetables, chopped eggs and olives are folded into mayonnaise with a squeeze of lemon. Cauliflower replaces the potatoes and keeps every bit of the comfort.

Per serving: 214 calories · 4.7 g net carbs · 6 g protein · 19 g fat (calculated from the ingredients)

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Brazilian Salada de Maionese
Brazilian Salada de Maionese, plated and ready to serve

Brazilian Salada de Maionese, Creamy Vegetable and Egg Salad

In Brazil, a bowl of salada de maionese, often simply called maionese, is the creamy vegetable salad that comes out for Sunday barbecues and holiday meals. Tender vegetables, chopped eggs and olives are folded into mayonnaise with a squeeze of lemon. Cauliflower replaces the potatoes and keeps every bit of the comfort.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Brazilian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 214kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 cups cauliflower florets cut small
  • 1 small carrot diced
  • 3 large eggs hard-boiled and chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sliced green olives
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the carrot and cook for 4 minutes, then add the cauliflower and cook for 5 to 6 minutes more, until both are just tender.
  • Drain well and spread the vegetables on a tray to cool and dry completely.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion and salt.
  • Add the cooled vegetables, eggs, olives and most of the parsley and fold gently.
  • Chill for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley before serving.

Notes

Make sure the cauliflower is completely cool and dry before adding the mayonnaise, or the salad will turn watery. Cook it until just tender with a little bite left, never mushy.
Chef's Tip: Slip a few slices of hard-boiled egg and some olives on top in a pattern; Brazilian home cooks love to decorate this salad for parties.
Keto Swap: Potatoes, and often peas and corn, make up the bulk of the traditional salad. Cauliflower gives the same soft bite, and a small amount of carrot keeps the familiar color.
Success Tip: Add diced ham or shredded chicken to turn it into a complete cold lunch.
Nutrition is calculated from the ingredients and is an estimate per serving. Net carbs exclude fiber and allulose.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 214kcal | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Fiber: 2.7g
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Cooking Brazilian Salada de Maionese in the kitchen
Making Brazilian Salada de Maionese

About This Dish

Salada de maionese is closely related to the Russian salad, or salada russa, that is popular in Portugal and many other countries. In Brazil it is so linked to its dressing that people simply call it maionese. It is a standard side at churrascos, family Sunday lunches and the Christmas table. Many families add apple, raisins or corn, and debates over the right ingredients are part of the fun. Homemade mayonnaise was once the rule, and many cooks still make it fresh for special occasions.

This recipe is from The Ultimate Brazilian Keto Cookbook by Gisele Costello, Chapter 9: Salads (Lençóis Maranhenses National Park). See all Brazilian recipes

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